Things Forged. And Forges Used

When I look at this image I hear a section of a specific song. If you can ignore the title of the song, the song is “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful.” timestamp 2:58-3:15. It’s a meditative sound that I love to learn with. (Something to listen along with while you read)

This was the product of the still life project at SPAO. I had a little bit of a struggle with this project, initially because of the Hasselblad camera. A few issues I had with it were the top-down viewfinder, not being able to see how the exposure was and a whole slew of other problems.

My initial subject idea I had was to photograph the clothing and things I would carry with me everyday. So I would photograph clothing that I would wear on an evening /day out. I’d then write about what power they gave me to get me through the day. I got this idea from years of playing World of Warcraft as a kid (And maybe a little bit yesterday too). All clothing items in the game would have specific attributes that would boost certain statuses of your character. For example i’d photographed an outfit that i’d worn to casinos throughout the summer. including my “My lucky shirt” that i’d wear. I’d call the entire outfit “The Gambler’s Fandango” I’d have a dance between me and the roulette table. I’d worn it to Lac Leamy in Gatenau, Quebec and also to Cacino Rama In Orillia, Ontario. Doubled my money each time i’d went. I took photos on that idea for a bit, employing other outfits as well. The fabric was cool and I enjoyed it but unfortunately, I put the film in the camera wrong and nothing came up on the negatives. Oh well! Idea scrapped.

On that same roll of film I put food into containers that they wouldn't be in usually be in. For one, I put 6 oranges in a container that once held 6 blueberry muffins. I loved the shine of the plastic containers in the sun and the color of the oranges. Even if it was going to end up in black and white, I would have liked the gray tone that was going to be produced.

I was upset and frustrated, so I put the camera down for a while and just lived life. I started dating this girl in September. We'd go out and have conversations, dance, have fun, talk about our past. Just gathering information and inspiration. I’d also see other friends and do the same thing. I found out she actually had modeled for another SPAO student a couple years ago. We eventually did a photoshoot or two with still life. I still had no idea what I wanted to do. I saw botanicals in class. Like paintings of flower vases and different foods. But I didn't really them because they weren’t new. Painters a thousand years ago did botanicals. There's a few artists on instagram that I liked so I thought i’d copy their styles. One that I liked the most- @Trym_hinano. This one had a very sweet and scented atmosphere to it. Hands, flower petals and jewelry. I liked how my attempted shots came out, but I couldn’t use photoshop (for film reasons). So it was a nice gift for my lady once I printed them. But it wasn't final project worthy to me. 

I started to go back to what I liked. I found that I was trying to cater to what all the instructors would like, what an “audience” would like. I just got upset by that. I hated doing that. That's when I found what I wanted. I went back and played my old video games that I love and identify with. And on one shoot with my lady I looked at the handheld light that I was using to light the scene and there it was! My final project. I thought about what light means, the heat, warmth, and the idea of a forge. Making something. I remember in World Of Warcraft going to the city of Ironforge in the game and watching the dwarven smiths making things.

I related it all back to my time at SPAO, it has been a few years since I have been in school or any educational environment. Coming back to that I have my instructors voices in my head again, helping me learn.

This photo had me thinking with those voices in my head. I’d imagined the hands were Jamie the darkroom instructor’s hands (which they are not). Showing me how to work the enlarger or anything to do with the negatives. When I was composing the photo I heard Michael the instructor’s voice telling me to mind my composition. So I brought the subject down lower in the frame to show that the viewer is peeking over the shoulder of the person who is showing them how to forge this ring. Leaving just a little room above the shoulder. go look over someone’s shoulder, you’ll get it. and before I could do anything I minded my shutter speed and F-Stop because I knew John the technician instructor would remind me to do so. After the fact, writing this now I have Amy, the history and writing instructor’s voice in my head. Talking about the meaning of the art. I’m unsure how others will perceive it but I believe I have communicated well how saw this artwork as it developed in front of me.

If this image was moving in some sort of way I’d imagine the glow of the “forge” shimmering, not only around the ring but the fingers itself. I imagine a number of small sparks like the one you see in the left corner of the forge. There would also be a glow coming from outside that would flow into the ring like smoke - that would be translated into the voices of my instructors. The limitations of darkroom (or perhaps my own knowledge of the darkroom) prevented me from creating this iteration. I do want to respect the process, and acknowledge that I am still learning here.

So here it is.

Things forged. And the Forges used.

Special thanks to Michael Tardioli, Jamie Potvin, Amy Bruce, John Healey and Avery Miles